The Austin Stone Podcast

No one anticipates their marriage will face deep hardships. Even more so, no one expects a sermon on divorce to draw them deeper into the body of Christ.

In 2014, Candy and her husband separated, and shortly after, a friend invited her to The Austin Stone. Transitioning churches is always hard, but Candy was committed to link arms with a body of believers that aligned deeply with her love for truth. So she gave The Stone a try, first by listening to a Matt Carter sermon on divorce. “It was probably one of the hardest messages I’ve ever listened to, but also one that felt the most true to me,” she remembers.

In the months to come, Candy experienced the deep loss and pain of divorce. But in God’s kindness, she also experienced countless examples of God’s love for her through her small group and leaders who were active and present with her and her daughters as they searched for hope after divorce. Through all of it, Candy heard the Lord share a consistent message she’s now sharing with all of us:  “Nothing you go through is wasted. Even the hard things we walk through, God uses all of it. No matter how hard it is, God uses all of it for His glory.”

Halim Suh spends time looking at what it means that Jesus is an intercessor, a better hope, and our forever priest.

Barbara was excited when her church became part of The Austin Stone family, and then the pandemic hit, and she was suddenly isolated from her new church family. But God knew what she needed, and as He cared for her, Barbara felt God saying, “I care about relationships. I care about friendships.”

God was faithful to bring these women together to experience His love through one another. Barbara says, “God has continued to knit us together in this relationship. It’s beyond explanation—because all of us are different. All of us have different things going on in our lives. And yet, God has said, ‘This is something I’m giving you.’”

“How has God been faithful in your life?” We asked six partners this question in our new series, Stories from The Austin Stone, and their answers beautifully display God’s goodness to His people.

Ross Lester spends time looking at what it means for us to be multigenerational investors.

Tyler David spends time looking at what it means for us to be welcoming witnesses

Ross Lester spends time looking at what it means for us to be equipped ambassadors.

Matt Blackwell spends time looking at what it means for us to be established and healthy congregations united together in mission.

On today’s digital service, Ross Lester explores our 2030 vision narrative—focusing on what it means to be joyfully devoted disciples.

Halim Suh spends time in Psalm 42 where we see how we can return to hoping in God when life’s circumstances cause us to become hopeless.